Work of flexion after flexor tendon repair according to the placement of sutures.

Abstract

Tendon repairs comparing dorsal or volar placement of sutures were done on 36 flexor profundus tendons from 9 canine cadaveric paws. Three suture techniques were used. Work of flexion as a measure of resistance to tendon gliding was measured in the following groups: Groups 1 and 2: 4-strand Savage technique with 5-0 core suture, dorsal or volar placement; Groups 3 and 4: 4-strand Savage technique with 4-0 core suture, dorsal or volar placement; and Groups 5 and 6: tendon splint technique, dorsal or volar placement. The increase in work of flexion values were 11.3%, 14.1%, 12.2%, 37%, 20.5%, and 92.7% for Groups 1 through 6, respectively. The increase in work of flexion value in Group 4 was significantly greater than that in Group 3, and the value in Group 6 was significantly greater than Group 5. These data suggest that the work of flexion after tendon repair was influenced by the location of the suture material; volar location of suture material significantly increased the work of flexion value.